tawandamusarurwa
PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA’s last star rally before the recent harmonised elections was in Shurugwi, Midlands province. The Sunday Mail’s EMMANUEL KAFE (EK) spoke to Midlands Metropolitan Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution MR ABIOT MARONGE (AM) on some of the developmental projects that have been implemented by the Government in the province.
***************
EK: How much has the province received in devolution funds in the past five years?
AM: Under devolution, the province has received $9 billion since 2019. The funds were utilised in health, education, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) programmes, urban renewal, procurement of equipment and road maintenance.
EK: How has this helped in bringing development to the province?
AM: The implementation of devolution projects has improved the lives of communities, especially those in remote areas, by bringing services such as clinics, schools, roads, water and sanitation closer to them.
There has been a notable improvement in service delivery by local authorities since the disbursement of the Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers (IGFT). Devolution has been able to fill that gap, with the fundamental instrument being the IGTFs — commonly termed devolution funds — made to local authorities.
Local authorities embarked on capital projects in both rural and urban areas.
Additionally, local councils bought much-needed equipment that includes road construction machinery.
Devolution has greatly shifted the development landscape, as well as correcting colonial imbalances of skewed development.
It has helped in improving community participation in development planning, infrastructural development and enhancing Government visibility in communities.
In addition, devolution has strengthened local democracy and enhanced allocative efficiency in the supply of public funds, goods and services.
Communities now have a say in matters of development that affect them, although there is a need for improved decentralisation by some ministries, departments and agencies.
Areas that are not endowed with natural resources can benefit regardless of their resource status.
A more deliberate effort to attain equitable resource allocation to address issues of marginalisation is being realised.
EK: Please, elaborate on some of the high-impact projects in health that have been undertaken?
AM: The province achieved key milestones in the health sector, which include the Gweru Provincial Hospital Covid-19 Isolation Centre. Construction of the National Pathology Research and Diagnostic Centre at the Midlands State University in Gweru is a signature project for the province and will benefit the entire nation. Government also bankrolled a private ward in Zvishavane and the Gweru Infectious Diseases Hospital.
Kwekwe Town Council has completed constructing an infectious diseases hospital, which will benefit the people of Mbizo and surrounding areas. Other health centres that Government has commissioned include Mapfungautsi Polyclinic under Gokwe Town Council, and Chimbindi and Hwata clinics under Chirumhanzu Rural District Council (RDC).
In Gweru district, local authorities like Vungu RDC are working on the Impali Clinic (clinic block and staff houses construction, procurement of furniture and fencing), with the project set to be completed this month.
The clinic will reduce travelling distances to the nearest health facility for communities in the Chief Sogwala area by about 10 kilometres.
For improved access to health services by communities in rural areas, Gokwe South RDC is expected to complete constructing the Ganye Clinic next month.
In Shurugwi district, Tongogara RDC worked on the Tongogara Polyclinic.
The health centre — which includes a clinic block, staff houses, furniture and fencing — was commissioned recently during the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Community Assistance Week. In the same district, Gamwa Clinic is also now ready for commissioning. For improved maternal health and reduction in morbidity and mortality through provision of safe delivery services, Shurugwi Town Council has completed construction of the Sebanga Polyclinic, which will be opened to the public soon.
In Runde RDC, under Zvishavane district, the Marira Clinic block and staff houses construction, furnishing and fencing have been completed and the health centre is ready for commissioning.
EK: How has the Rural Development 8.0 model benefitted the province since it was introduced?
AM: Rural Development 8.0 is anchored in agricultural transformation, which will lead to rural industrialisation and facilitate the attainment of Vision 2030.
The province has seen improved food and nutrition security through the Presidential Input Support Programme (Pfumvudza/Intwasa).
To date, the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme has seen 128 boreholes drilled in the province for improved water supply. There has been an increase in livestock herds and a reduction in tick-borne diseases through the Presidential Blitz Tick Grease Programme.
The Presidential Rural Poultry Scheme, the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme and the Presidential Horticulture Programme have greatly improved nutrition security, while the Presidential Silage Programme has seen an increase in pastures and improved the livestock condition.
EK: Can you outline some major infrastructural developments being implemented in the Midlands province?
AM: The biggest investment in the province is the Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DICSO) plant, which is worth over US$1,5 billion and is earmarked to be the largest steel making company in Africa.
Now 70 percent complete, the project will benefit the people of Chirumhanzu and also boost industrialisation in the province.
There is also expected to be import substitution of iron and steel, saving the country tens of millions of dollars in foreign currency annually. The province has also managed to refurbish the tar production plant at Zimchem in Kwekwe.
The plant, which is expected to be commissioned next month, will greatly reduce reliance on imported raw materials for road infrastructure development. There is also a Midlands State University modified coal tar plant in Zvishavane.
Its coal tar factory shell is now complete, together with a 500kVA electricity substation, and it is expected to be up and running in December this year.
Construction of the RioZim Murowa 500TPH Greenfields Diamonds Plant and Unki Concentrator expansion, where the company invested over US$65 million, is progressing smoothly.
Its first phase has since been commissioned.
EK: Government has done a lot countrywide in terms of irrigation development. Can you outline some of the major successes under irrigation and agriculture development in Midlands?
AM: In the agriculture sector, substantial investments were made in irrigation development, resulting in the revitalisation of several irrigation schemes such as Hama-Mavahire, Maryoca, Mtange, Exchange, Biri and Insukamini.
There has been an increase in water bodies for crop production. The province has also seen the establishment of solarised nutrition gardens, which have greatly improved the nutrition security of the province. Already, two site works have been completed, tested and commissioned in Mvuma and Mberengwa. A post-harvesting processing centre has also been established at Insukamini in Gweru district and is now complete. The processing centre will reduce post-harvest losses and will be commissioned soon.
EK: Briefly tell us about the improvements that have been made in the education sector across the province?
AM: In the education sector, the province has made enormous strides as witnessed by construction of modern classroom blocks at Neta in Mberengwa and Budiriro Primary School in Gokwe North.
The Midlands State University is expanding with the construction of innovation hubs, the National Pathology Research Centre and an industrial park.
An urban transformation programme at Senga Primary School has seen 60 beneficiaries registered and trained in agribusiness.
A borehole has been drilled at the site, land cleared and fruit trees were established by the Forestry Commission.
Work is in progress to turn the site into a centre of agricultural excellence.
Online Reporter